BRISTOL FATHER PREPARES FOR PRESTIGIOUS LONDON TO PARIS CYCLING EVENT IN SUPPORT OF DAUGHTER

Bristol resident Martin Abrahams is preparing to push himself to the limit next month by cycling 500km from London to Paris, in aid of blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, a charity very close to his heart.Martin will be completing the event as part of "Jessie's Journeymen". The team is named after his daughter Jessie, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in February last year, and includes Jessie's grandfather Steve Gittens as well as friends Rich Arnold and Nick Dye.Speaking about his inspiration for taking part, Martin says: "I am doing the ride after my youngest daughter Jessie was diagnosed with leukaemia last year, when only two years old. That was a life-changing event for us. Myself, my wife Melissa and our eldest daughter Zoe (six) have adapted our lives to make sure Jessie has as normal a life as possible."The team are focused on raising money and awareness for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research as without their research Jessie simply would not be here. We want to give something back and help those unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with blood cancer in the future. We buy into the whole ethos of beating blood cancers and we want to do all we can to make this a reality."The event, London | Paris: Be Unstoppable starts in historic Greenwich Park on 19 June and will take 220 cyclists to Paris over four days. The endurance ride offers participants all the excitement of being part of a peloton, with motorcycle outriders and closed roads, as well as an entourage of mechanics, physiotherapists and support vehicles. Training hasn't been easy for Martin as Jessie is still undergoing treatment. Although she is now on less intensive treatment, she recently had to be given medication for pains in her legs, a side effect of the chemotherapy.Martin adds: "I'm balancing working full-time and helping my wife, who is now a full-time carer for Jessie, as well as training. I completed my first ever half marathon in March, also for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, which I was meant to do in 2013 but Jessie was diagnosed two weeks before so I dropped out. Doing it this year felt like a major milestone. I was so motivated to do it, complete it and do well because I wanted to do it for Jessie."Training is difficult but nothing about our lives is easy at the moment but we are so focused on bringing positivity to our home right now, if it rubs off on other people, there's no harm in that."Dan Solley, Cycling Events Delivery Specialist at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research says: "We are constantly inspired by the stories of those taking part in events for the charity and the dedication of our supporters like Martin. London | Paris: Be Unstoppable is one of the highest profile cycling events Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research puts on. It is the experience of a lifetime and we are delighted that Martin will be joining us. All the money raised will help us improve the lives of patients and reach our goal of beating blood cancers."To support Martin and help beat blood cancer, please visit www.justgiving.com/Jessies-Journeymen.